In Botswana, if you want excitement, you don't have to look very
far. At the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, you can always find
something going on. Not to mention the fact of a shared space with
Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. You never know what's in store on any
given day.

Precious Ramotswe has a job and does it well. Now married to J.L.B.
Matekoni, she has a whole new outlook on life, especially men.
J.L.B. is a great guy who owns the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. His
issue is finding good help, which seems to be virtually impossible
for him. Having Mma Ramotswe is a plus, though; she is not easily
ruffled and is definitely someone to get along with and learn from.
After all, she does get her investigative tips from Clovis
Andersen's book, THE PRINCIPLES OF PRIVATE DETECTION. Who could go
wrong with that? At her side is her loyal assistant, Grace Makutsi,
who is always up for a new challenge; however, she's experiencing
quite a few of her own. Engaged to Phuti Radiphuti, she's finding
that love and happiness aren't always what's in the
storybooks.

Things start getting interesting when a huge cobra is found in Mma
Ramotswe's office. Ironically, the incompetent apprentices who work
for J.L.B. Matekoni try to capture it, only to blunder that mission
and rely on a customer to fix the problem. It's not even
interesting that their version of the story is completely
different. What would you expect? Following that incident comes a
tip from a local nurse about faulty blood pressure readings. Let
the investigative work begin. All the while, Mma Ramotswe is
continuously having doubts about Aunty Emang, the local advice
columnist. Her advice is often flawed in Mma Ramotswe's eyes, or
not very thorough. Is she really who she seems to be?

With witty titles for each chapter, Alexander McCall Smith
definitely captures your attention in this latest installment of
the series. Laughter, irony and loyalty run rampant as you are
pulled into the storyline, seemingly becoming a character of your
own. This is an excellent continuance for the "self-taught"
detective. Several different scenarios and mysteries run throughout
the story, constantly holding your attention. One thing is certain.
You need some help? Then call the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
--- but you may get way more than you originally bargained
for.